Biological activities studies and phase transfer catalysts promoting the one-pot synthesis of N-aryl-N′-(4-ethyloxy benzoyl)-thiourea derivatives

A series of N-aryl-N'-(4-ethyloxybenzoyl)-thiourea 3a-h was synthesized under phase transfer catalysis and r.t. conditions. The chemical structure of all compounds were established by IR, H-1 NMR, and C-13 NMR studies, and all of the compounds were investigated for plant-growth regulating activity. Excitingly, they remarkably enhance root elongation.